National Republican., 1887-08-23

whatever of redeeming; and tho declaration
OF its efficient management OF the free school
ofed i warrants rant issSed dI to % onr school % ieachers
which are bawked about unpaid under its ad.
ministtation, condition Of things at which
the Republican party may well be indignant,
when II is borne in mind that this abuse was
entirely corrected when II was in power.
The declaration in favor of the Blair bill is
apace with the other pretenses Of the paper
twice passed by Republican Senate, aud
twice defeated by q Democratic House. The
effort made to place the responsibility for these
defeats upon the Hon. John g. Carlisle Is an
unmanly and dishonest subterfuge. The Vir.
Pinia Democratic representatives knew the
opposition OF Mr.. Carlisle to the bill when they
that majority Of that caucus agreed with the
views OF Mr.. Carlisle, and would elect him
speaker placing II in his power TO appoint
committees and recognize members IN such
way as TO defeat the measure. With this knowl.
edge they agreed TO be bound by the action of
that caucus, and voted for Mr.. Carlisle. The
defeat of the Blair bill was the action OF the
Democratic Representatives from Virginia were
as much responsible as John G. Carlisle, be-
cause they agreed to be bound by the action OF
Of s Views % and To,e g % IN
obedience to that pledge, thereby surrender
Ing every principle they professed upon the
rii, Treivenue, the tarifi, and the Blair bill 70 the
prised OF what they were doing, and we conil-
IDENTIFY predict the reelection of Mr.. Carlisle
as Democratic sneaker by the next Congress,
Notwithstanding his opposition 10 that meas
ure and all eimilar propositions.
Seventh. As to agriculture. Thore is not
and never can be any conflict between the
iession Of friendship for our agricultural in-
terests. Upon their thrift is built all
prosperity. To their protection the Republican
party has ever been devoted. But when the
Democratic party declares its concern for the
agricultural interest of the state, Il Is well TO
remind the people that Secretary Manning
recommended 70 the forty ninth Congress . re.
peal OF tariff duties on wheat, oats, corn, hay.
and other farm products, and that they be placed
on the free list, and that tea and coffee should
be taxed as luxuries; As Mr.. Cleveland
Virginia has indorsed Mr.. Cleveland, 1t NAV
be well enough for the farmers to consider
what this declaration OF friendship. by the
which would bring the agricultural products
Of the world IN competition with our own, in
the home market, may prove costly to the
Eighth. As to the question OF friendship to
the laboting men. We feel that our party,
whose proudest motto Is the dignity OF Ameri
can labor and the protection OF American In
dustrics, needs no vnpid asseveration OF
friendship for the laboring man. Such sweet
assurances are, however, timely from party
whose administration has indicted and prose
cuted cooperative labor, while 1t has brought
convict labor into active competition with
honest industry In town and country, and
WHOSE membership Is coordinate in many To-
calhies of this ttate with "law and order
leagues" instituted in opposition to labor or.
ganizalion.
Touching the resolution indorsing the ad-
ministration Of Fit2hugh Lee, governor Of Viz
ginia, as "wise and judicious," we confess our
selves at a loss 10 know what thought or &C.
tion OF Gov. Lee has deserved such commenda-
tion. Since his inauguration he has shown
himself lacking In the ability or inclination to
suggest anything for the relief of this people
IN their distress. He has invited public meet
ings of the citizens In various cities aud coun-
coupons. In turn, invited to lend the weight
and sanction of his presence as governor at
the meeting held In Richmond pursuant to his
CALL he pleaded pressing official duties as an
the following day disclosed the fact that he
was enjoying the play at the Richmond Thea
ter with boon, companions at the moment his
excuses were being read TO the people, who
had convened upon his call TO discuss their
poverty. He invited the representatives OF the
British bondholders to the capital of Virginia,
nld while they were in Richmond awaiting
the results OF their efforts at q settlement with
the state, involving millions, the public press
announced Gov. Lee absent from his common
Washington. D. c. ie has used fS the "sg State as
boards, which he appoints, TO reward broken
down military friends and incapable aristo.
aomplsh his own political and private ends
The sole monument of his administration. so
far, is an elevator In the capitol, constructed
for his convenience. His chief employment
with associates unqualified to. advise or in.
struct him in the serious duties of his high
ofice. From the date OF his inauguration he
has "fddled while Rome is burning" and
frivolous leyity IS the chief characteristic Of
histerm. Such triting with grave and sad
public interests may be CLOSED over by Dem.
oSTsaiG WIN an
whether II fills the measure of what the people
expected from the nephew, OF Robert 4. Lee
For ourselves, we regret that Democratic In.
strained censure of his administration.
Touching the denunciation Of the surplus In
the treasury, the people Of Virginia will recall
the fact that the accumulation of this surplus
was leading count In the Democratic indlct-
ment of Republicans In the campaign OF 1881,
and some further apologies and explanations
cratic leaders as to why this surplus is so much
larger now under Democratic administration
than 1t was three years ago:
Touching the pledge of the Roanoke plat
form to protest and foster oysters we confess
that 1t Is wise. II not important in the present
crisis Of our state affairs
So much then for the platform OF apologies
party goes before the people In the present
campaign. We respectfully suggest however
that 1t should have extended those apologies
in which the people OF Virginia aIe interested
II was reasonable to expect that a party
which has been in legislative control for four
years past would render some account of its
This people have the right to know what has
become OF the Sl,hi3, 7l2.21 which was in the
treasury In 1883 when Democrats re- entered
the capitol, and what has been done with the
taxes since collected, amounting TO over Sl0,-
100000; and why there Is now so little money
IN the treasury, with yet an accumulation OF
overdue and unpaid interest in the same
period increasing the state debt four and half
They have right to information as to why
the annual costs of administering the govern
ment have increased from ESQ.,, 900 ito which
to over 81 ,26O,C00.
apology as to why the 1ails are again filled
with lupatics, and why these unfortunRtes are
nnployided with accommodation in the asy.
They had a right to expect some explana.
tion wherefore two Legislatures sat so often aud
so long, some apology for the failure to enact
any measure touching the interests of the peo-
PIE, and some account OF the public money
They demand explanation and apology for the
continuance Of the infamous Anderson. .McCul.
lcch bill. which makes fair elections impossi.
BILE. a measure like this, passed in mom,nt
OF high political excitement and passion. is in-
excusable, even if 1t had been repealed when
passion, subsidized and reason returned but
when 1t is deliberately perpetuated, II dis.
plays the malicious purpose of hearts devoid
ofsocial duty and fatally pent upon mischief.
1t was their right 70 know why warrants
issued for the pay of the teachers in public
schools are no longer cashed promptly by the
collecting officers Of the revenue but are left
to the mercies of the shaver. and this, too,
under an assessed taxation OF s225,OO0 a year
greater than, formerly, in contempt OF the
Democratic pledge not 10 increase taxes.
II was their right to have some explanation
ofthe disposition of the money which has been
paid from the treasury of the state to employ
lawyers to defend her interests in litigation
because of the ignorance, inildelity, and utter
OF attorney general.
They had right to expect some explana-
tion OF the facts and circumstances. nuder
which, as is publicly charged by Democratic
legislator, that attorney general and the
speaker Of the Democratic house of delegates
secured the passage of a railroad bill in which
one or both OF them were personally inter-